anderson cooper live for us this morning in gaza. >> president obama takes a historic trip to myanmar and cambodia. what he has to say and why everyone is not happy the president is even there? >> is the black friday frenzy all just a big scam? how you can stay home this year and still get the best deals. >>> the clock is ticking here on the fiscal cliff. we continue to talk about it. 43 days to go. why there is new optimism there will be a deal reached soon. >> it is monday, november 19th. "starting point" begins right now. >>> good morning, everyone. soledad is off today. we want to welcome in our special team that's joined us here. "new york times" columnist. nan hayworth. ron brownstein, cnn political analyst is here as well. >> welcome to you all. we will be talking here in a moment. we have to begin with the huge story. "starting point," this morning, death and despair mounting in the middle east. the conflict in gaza city, it is intensifying. it's been intensifying overnight. look at the destruction here. an israeli missile slamming into a residential neighborhood taking out th